Chapter 3 Wits and Secrets

Katy's Point of View.

His office was really cold. I knew shivering was something we were supposed to repel against. Mrs Smith couldn't be more clear in training. Good thing I was not a spy. If a naive and quite comedic housekeeper was what would keep my identity a secret, then I was all in.

"Are you alright?" He asked, peering over me. I nodded and quickly moved to the chair that faced his own seat. He was tall. Too tall if I was being honest. Crazy tall. Why hadn't they mentioned anything about his height?

"You may sit, miss..."

"Philips. Josie Philips." I squeaked out, falling behind on the chair.

He paused, staring at me for a while before sitting down ruggedly in his chair. Stroking his chin, he finally broke the silence. "You say it like you're not very sure."

"I'm not quite sure what you mean."

"You said your name with a hint of uncertainty."

"Yeah, only because you won't stop gawking at me." Woah. Why on earth could I not control my tongue since today?

He didn't say anything. If he was annoyed about my retort, I didn't know. I rushed to apologize.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry. I didn't mean it. I don't even know why I said that. I'm sorry."

"Ah."

At this point, I had nothing more to say.

"Sorry."

"You're nervous. We are all bound to be defensive when we are nervous."

What could I even say to that? He opened his laptop.

"You worked four years before you were without a job and I hired you."

Why did he say it like I was trouble? I mean, I did trust Mrs. Smith to handle communications with him, maybe that was a mistake. In fact, it was.

"Yes, that is correct sir."

"And you were fired?"

Wait, what? Was I supposed to say 'I think so?' "Yes, sir."

"Why?"

"Why?" I knew what he wanted to know, but perhaps delaying with this question would help me think of something. Anything at all. So far, I was coming up with nothing.

"Why were you fired?"

"There was a situation."

His eyes laughed even though his lips remained tight. "What situation?"

"I wanted to see Washington DC. I was born in Texas. Schooled in Texas. Kindergarten till college. I needed to see somewhere else."

"Funny I find Texas cooler than here." It was such a simple statement, but his face remained stern.

"Um... Well, we all have our preferences I guess."

"So you got fired because you wanted to see another part of the world?"

"Kinda."

"Hmm." He stood and walked to the curtains. Seriously, I thought blinds were the real deal now. "There are a number of rules that you need to know of if you're gonna be working here."

"If?" Johnson would laugh his head in if I got turned down. Didn't realize he had options.

"If." He confirmed, walking to the coffee stand. "I would not want you to run off on me. Maybe the next place you decide you wanna go to is Switzerland. I hear that green lushes are quite famous around there."

I rolled my eyes. "I hear some people get detained for sarcasm."

He turned quickly, spilling some of his coffee. "What was that?"

"Nothing."

"You said something."

"Yes, I said... Um..." Oh boy. "I do have questions of my own. I know that might sound crazy but it's true." He stares at me for a while, making my heart thud. He took a sip from his cup and strode swiftly to his chair.

"Okay, what did you hope to ask?" Oh boy! What did I want to ask?

"Um... Naturally, you are going to have to finish before I start warming up my questions. I have to know everything before I'm able to get my questions on board."

"Alright." He finally said. I tried not to stare into his eyes too much. And at this point, I wished when someone was annoying to you, a little of their genes becomes invisible to you.

"So... How am I so sure you're not going to turn on me?"

"I won't turn on you."

"How am I so sure?"

Why was he making this a problem? Move on already. "Okay, the thing is this, if you are so worried that I might go all AWOL on you, then let's do this, why don't I sign something."

"How am I guaranteed that would keep you?"

Okay, now he was just being repetitive. Annoyingly repetitive. "It's only natural that I sign a contract, I mean rich people had a lot of confidence in all that stuff?"

"We do, but I would have had more confidence if I was the one that thought of it."

"I assure you, I have no plans to ditch you."

Silence. Again! Men, was this blonde-eyed guy getting on my nerves with his whole James Bond move? "Alright, you will sign a contract." He took a sip from what I presumed would be a lukewarm coffee now. "But you should know, the grounds are quite extensive. Should you plan to run, there are going to be people waiting for you. With guns, maybe."

Wait, what?! First threat! This was his first time threatening me. I carefully tried to pull my phone out of my pocket and hit record. I would get him to say it again. This could be helpful in court or to the judges or a lawyer, whomever. For some reason, my phone couldn't quite make its way out. It was stuck. Great. When I realized he was still staring at me, I immediately plastered a sad look. No, not sad. A terrified look. That was what I needed.

''I won't run."

"That was meant to be a joke."

Are you sure, Carson? Thankfully, I had the willpower to control my lips before that slipped up.

"Okay, sir." That was much better.

"Next question."

Next question? We weren't done yet? Ah great.

"Do you have children?"

"No."

"Ever had children?"

"Nope."

"Ever been married?"

"No. But sure has been in a lot of dates." I joked. I knew it sounded crazy, but the monologuing tone was beginning to give the room more shade than the funny-looking curtains in place.

He stared at me and smiled, shaking his head. Well, that was a first.

"Do you like community?"

"Who doesn't?"

"Miss Philips, you can't answer a question with a question."

"I just did and you got what I meant, right?"

"Well, when I am asking you questions, let it be questions and answers. I don't have time for decoding all these fancy talks you have been laying around.

"Fancy?"

"Yes, so if you don't mind, no more questions after questions. Just answer after questions, got it?" He wasn't completely growling, but the smile had vanished into thin air. God, I missed home. So much.

"Yes, sir."

"Okay. So let's continue. So you like community?"

"I do."

"You've also noticed that this house is within a... Concealed residence. How exactly do you plan to be connected to the community?"

"I don't know. Yet."

"Would you mind elaborating further?"

"No." Woah.

He raised his eyes from the screen he had been perusing and stared into mine.

"May I ask why?"

"Because I don't know yet."

"Ah."

"Yes."

He squinted his eyes at me. "You know I told you to answer a question, I didn't tell you to begin answering in a monologuing manner."

"I am trying to be civil."

He gulped down coffee. "Alright, what are your questions?"

"You're done asking me yours?"

"Yes."

"Okay, do you write letters?"

"No."

"Okay. Well, I like writing letters. I like delivering them to the small box shop just before the borders."

"So, your point is?"

"I would like to be writing letters. I would not like to stop. So, I just... Well, I want to know how I would be going about it."

"Very well, Morris will take care of that. He will take your letters and he will deliver them."

"Why can't I just deliver them myself?"

"It's miles and miles and miles away. And that is why Morris is present. He will provide you with all the outside service you need."

Wait. Why was he so bent on making rules that kept us locked in? I swayed.

"Do you mind if I poured myself a cup?" I asked, pointing to the coffee table.

"Pour all the coffee you can handle."

"Thank you." I needed caffeine. Immediately, I stood up and poured a cup to the brim.

"I'd like to handle the letters myself."

He studied my face for a while.

"Why?"

Why? Great question. Except I had no answers to give in return. Boy, oh boy.

"Erm... I do like to meet the man who runs the place in person. He's my friend."

"How often do you write these letters?"

"Two times a week."

"And who do you write them to?"

"Family." Okay, now my heart was beating fast.

He studied me for a while, before squinting back at his laptop. "It does say here that you have no family."

Oh, Mrs Smith and her ways. This wasn't 1978 anymore. I frantically searched my mind for something. Anything.

"I have friends. I do consider friends family. Do you not?"

"I don't have friends." His tone was steel.

"Oh... Okay. Yeah, well I do. I am not really willing to let go of what I have with them."

"And if I say no?"

Well, that was a bummer. "Sir, I want this job. I want to work here but at this point, I'm not ready to let go of my friends to work for you. If you would give me three months for trial, you would see that it is... That I am... I will be good at this job."

"I never said you won't be."

"Yeah, but you thought it. You're thinking it now in fact."

"You don't know that for sure, now do you?" He was holding in a smile.

"Ah, but I do read minds."

He didn't say anything for a while. Squinting.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Alright. I will let you deliver your letters. It will not be easy because it is quite extensive, but I'll give you a chance."

I smiled. I guess Johnson wouldn't be laughing at me after all. "Yay."

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened to reveal a rather plump woman. "You're even more beautiful than Morris described." She smiled brightly. Her red hair matched her shoes. Her very high shoes. Wait, was that mandatory?

"Miss Philips, meet Adelaide. She's the cook. Very distinguished in the kitchen."

She smiled. If I didn't know better, I would say she batted her lashes at him. Maybe this mission wasn't going to be as drama-less as I thought. I waved at her.

"Hi Adelaide. I'm Josie."

"I know I have said this before but you are very very beautiful."

"Thank you. You are very beautiful. I cannot wait to work with you."

She smiled again. Didn't her cheeks hurt?

"Would you mind showing her around, Adelaide? Make sure she knows the grounds quite well."

"Yes, sir. I look forward to seeing you at dinner."

"Thank you. You too."

Men could be so oblivious without trying so hard.

"It's so nice to have another woman in the house. I'm more happy than I let on." She said immediately the door to Mr Cooper's office closed.

"I have worked with women before but none as beautiful as you. And kind."

She smiled again. "Good to know. You're not single are you?"

"Why do you ask?" Was that also a requirement to live in this rather vast estate? It was so tiring.

"Well, I just thought I'd let you know that Mr Carson already has his hands full and I'd hate anything to come between this report we're forming." She said. Sweetly? Wait what?

I was still standing there when she happily walked ahead. Great. Now I was in a semi-love triangle I knew nothing about. Great. Just great.